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FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 

OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF 

THE BARNARD FREEDMEN'S-x\ID SOCIETY 
OF DORCHESTER. 



The Executive Committee of The Barnard Freedmen's-Aid 
Society of Dorchester, in looking back on the doings of the 
past year, find great reason for congratulating the society on 
the success that has attended its efforts in awakening and 
keeping up an interest in the community in the object for 
which it is working, and thereby securing liberal pecuniary 
resources, and also on the actual good which they believe has 
been done by its teachers to the needy recipients of its 
bounty. 

After a preliminary meeting held on the seventh of Febru- 
ary last, at which the addresses of Messrs. Edward Atkinson 
and William Everett did much towards increasing the interest 
before felt in the cause, the society was organized on the four- 
teenth of the same month, after listening to the appeals of 
Rev. Edward E. Hale and Prof John C. Zachos ; its object 
being, as expressed in its constitution, " the furtherance of the 
purposes of the Educational Commission, by the raising of 
funds for the Commission ; or for the support, under its direc- 
tion, of a teacher or teachers of freedmeu ; or for both ends ;" 
and also, the doing " incidentally what it can to spread inform- 



ation relative to the wants, purposes, and operations of the 
Commission." The society determined, by the name which it 
adopted, to perpetuate the memory of one well known and 
beloved in this community, who answered in person the Edu- 
cational Commission's earliest call for help ; and who, stricken 
down at his post, was the first to pass from the service to 
which he had devoted himself, to a higher sphere of duty. 

Beside the two public meetings already spoken of, the 
society held on the twenty-ninth of May a third, which was 

addressed by Mr. William E. Park of Andover, Rev. A 

W. Stevens of Manchester, and Rev. James H. Means. These 
three meetings were attended by appreciative congregations; 
and the generous subscriptions made at each one showed that 
the appeals of the speakers, to whom the society is much 
indebted, had not been made in vain, 

A number of meetings Avere held in the vestry of the First 
Parish once a fortnight during a part of the summer, at which 
meetings garments were cut out that were afterwards made 
up and forwarded to the teachers in the pay of the society to 
the value of nearly two hundred dollars : and in this connec- 
tion it is proper to mention that the ladies of the Executive 
Committee, who form a committee on clothing, are glad to 
receive gifts of serviceable garments, either new or second- 
hand, for which there are now pressing calls. 

On the first of May last, a fair was held in Lyceum Hall, by 
the efforts of several ladies of this society, in part for the 
benefit of the society, which brought in to the committee on 
clothing the sum of six hundred and twenty-three dollars and 
thirty-eight cents, a most acceptable addition to their re- 
sources. 

The Executive Committee have held eight meetings, and 
have at different times adopted as teachers, Miss Sarah Clark 

',1 



of Dorchester, Miss Helen M. Ireson of Lynn, Miss S. Virginia 
Lawton of Cambridge, Mrs. A. Frances Pillsbury of Ludlow, 
Mrs. Anna Carr of Dorchester, and Rev. Marshall G. Kimball 
of Boston. Mr. Kimball came back from Newbern to fill the 
place of corresponding-secretary of the Boston association, 
now The New-England Freedmen'^-Aid Society ; and this asso- 
ciation has the right to designate some other teacher in his 
stead, as it continues to pay the salaries of five teachers, 
though but four are now specially appropriated to it. Miss 
Clark is teaching at Norfolk, Va. ; Miss Ireson is at Newbern ; 
Miss Lawton, who has gone out to labor among those of her 
own race, is at Alexandria ; and Mrs. Pillsbury is at Hilton 
Head. The Committee believe them all to be earnest and 
successful workers, and consider themselves happy in their 
choice of them. The corresponding-secretary has received 
from them numerous letters showing a devotion to the work 
which proves their writers worthy of hearty support. 

These teachers are all sent out by The New-England Freed- 
men's-Aid Society, and have been examined and approved by 
an experienced committee of that society, the Executive Com- 
mittee having voted not to send out any teachers not thus 
approved. The Committee are at liberty to pick out any 
from those now employed by the parent-association, who are 
not already adopted, by assuming the payment of their sala- 
ries; and that society is ready to examine any candidates 
offered by branch-associations, assigning them to their work if 
they prove fitted for it, and sending them out under their pro- 
tection as fast as their salaries are provided for. 

The ready answer given by members of the society to the 
calls of the Finance Committee deserves special notice. Five 
members have given two hundred and forty dollars each, being 
the amount required to pay a teacher a salary of twenty dol- 



lars a month for one year. One has given one hundred and 
seventv-five doUars ; one, one hundred dollars ; and eight have 
given fifty dollars each; Avhile other subscriptions have ranged 
from the minimum, one dollar, to two, three, five, ten, twenty, 
and twenty-five dollars. Three of the largest subscribers 
have already made known their intention of continuing their 
subscriptions for another year ; and there is no doubt that 
others, when applied to, will do the same. 

Of the sura of two thousand, two hundred and twelve dol- 
lars collected during the past year, together with forty dollars 
and eleven cents, accrued interest, twelve hundred and sixty 
dollars has been or will be required for the salaries of the five 
teachers for twelve months. Nearly all the amount realized 
from the May-Day fair has been paid out for shoes and for 
cloth for garments ; and a large appropriation from the funds 
in the treasury is needed at once to supply urgent calls from 
the South. 

The number of members for the year 1864 has been one 
hundred and one, which number can cloubtless be greatly in- 
creased, for the coming year, by a very slight effort. Though 
any of the inhabitants of the town are gladly welcomed as 
members of the society, no exertion has been made to get 
members nor to collect subscriptions, except in the northerly 
part of the town ; as it has been expected that one or more 
other societies would be formed in other neighborhoods, which 
would be, like this, of a local and and not of a denominational 
cliaracter ; and it was thought best to leave a clear field to 
those who should interest themselves in getting up such soci- 
eties. The committee would express the hope that other parts 
of the town will not be behind in this work; and they feel 
sure that, with the abundant means and unquestioned liber- 
ality that exist, a few energetic persons could easily organize 



one or more associations to which this would gladly hold out 
the right-hand of fellowship, and with which it would be 
happy to contend in a generous rivalry in good works. 

Though the Executive Committee have reason to be greatly 
encouraged by the success of the past year, by the continued 
and increasing interest in the cause of the freedmen, notwith- 
standing the important events, both civil and military, that 
have have tended to occupy the public mind to the exclusion 
of other matters, they still feel that they cannot urge too often 
upon the society the importance of persistent effort in its work. 
As district after district is forced from the grasp of the rebels, 
the victorious march of our armies brings within our lines 
thousands and tens of thousands of those who need immedi- 
ate help. Though often naked and almost starving, they need 
to be an absolute burden for but a very short time, till work 
can be provided for them. They are, as a whole, ready and 
willing to help themselves, if they can be shown how to do so. 
Though crushed so long by a barbarous state of society almost 
to the level of the brute creation, they have shown, during 
the last few years, that they need only common advantages to 
enable them to raise themselves shortly to a position of self- 
support. To give them these advantages, and to teach them 
how to live, — not merely how to read and write, but how to 
take care of themselves, — is the aim of the association of 
which this is an auxiliary. An examination of its working 
will satisfy any candid inquirer of the merits of its plan of 
operations, of the competency of its officers, and of the suc- 
cess which it meets and has so richly earned. Of all these 
advantages the branch-societies can freely avail themselves. 
Money need not be thrown away by them in wasteful experi- 
ments ; the way is made plain for its use to the best advan- 
tage. 



\ > 



To the relief of the freedmen the public are called not only 
by the demands of true political economy, but by considera- 
tions of justice to a race which for so many years has been the 
victim of oppression, and by the dictates of common human- 
ity towards brethren in need ; and to this work should be 
pledged the most earnest efforts of an able and generous com- 
munity. 

For the Executive Committee, 

HENRY G. DENNY. 

Dorchester, January 22nd, 1865. 



]^OTE. — The above report was presented at the annual meeting of 
the society held January 22"", 1865 ; at which meetiBg the list of 
officers given below was unanimously chosen, and about eleven hun- 
dred dollars was subscribed towards the expenses of the current year. 
Four of the five members who supported one teacher each for the past 
year have now agreed to continue their support for the coming year 
at the increased rate of three hundred dollars each. Since the above 
date the Executive Committee have adopted another teacher, making 
six now in the pay of the society. 

The following extracts from a letter lately received from one of 
these teachers will give some idea of the varied work which falls to 
their lot. 

. . . We were obliged to give up our church at the bidding of Gen. Littlefield 
and necessity, to give shelter to daily -arriving refugees from Georgia, Pocotaligo, 
and other places. . . . 

Straw was procured for the floor, where some were lying sick without any com- 
fort, and some died there. We made hot tea, boiled rice, and procured medicine 
from the physician. I saw one man die, lying on the hard, narrow bench: — it 

MB. 10 3. 



seemed to excite no sympathy nor attention from the others around ; the suffer- 
ing and want of slavery had crushed out all feeling for each other. I found a 
place for a cook from Charleston ; also a place for a " settled woman " and her old 
uncle ; and sent four carpenters out to a plantation where their services were 

needed. This last service was out of my province, but Mr. was absent 

that day. . . . 

However, my charities were soon lost among the multitude. Long tiles of 
silent, ragged, hungry creatures marched up from the wharf Shivering old men 
and women, bUnd frequently, and barefoot, young men and women with the 
stolid, helpless look of desperation, little children without bread or warmth, 

crowded in, till humanity fainted at the sight. Mr. sends them in squads 

to plantations to labor for the season. Following the example of yankee soldiery, 

they burn the benches when wood is wanting ; and to-night Mr. found a 

great fire burning on a heap of sand on the floor, inside the church, over which 
they were cooking. 

What a work for Christian forbearance and civilization ! What an opportunity 
to waken the love of these oppressed wanderers for Saxon faces which have 
reduced them to this abject condition ! 

When I first went among them, they looked upon me with perfect indiffer- 
ence, scarcely answering inquiries ; but I loved them, and did not ask for servil- 
ity nor gratitude in exchange for sympathy. They had been accustomed to false 
words and promises from birth, and now they had just been robbed by soldiery, 
who lay down their lives for freedom, but strip the fleeing captives of blankets, 
money, or any thing else they may desire ; so I was resolved to make them 
believe in one white face at least. I began to take names, and a Hst of clothes 
wanted. Still they doubted ; but, after carrying the articles promised, I was 
always met on my way with meek requests for " a blanket, ma'am, I so cold 
nights ; " " some shoes, missus ; I got nothin 't all." Their hearts were reached ; 
eyes grew bright as I walked among them ; they wanted me to take their chil- 
dren, and any one would have gone wherever I directed. I mention this to show 
that this is the only way to influence these destitute and hopeless sufferers. No 
matter how ignorant, how stolid, how filthy, or how ragged, we must love them, 
walk among them, and talk with them, using gentle words and bringing armfuls 
of comforts. 

I am glad that those living among luxuries and treading carpeted floors are so 
generously sending of their abundance for this very purpose. It would be dan- 
gerous to halt now in this evident and imperative duty. . . . 

I shall begin teaching soon in a tent. A new schoolhouse among the negro 
settlements will relieve me of a great burden. 



OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY, 

For the Year 1865, 
FORMING THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



President : 
DANIEL DENNY. 

Vice-Presidents : 

DANIEL B. STEDMAN, FREDERICK W. G. MAY, 

HENRY J. NAZRO. 

Treasurer : 
J. AMORY DAVIS. 

Becording Secretary : 
RICHARD C. HUMPHREY'S. 

Corresponding Secretary: 
SARAH A. F. POPE. 

Finance Committee : 

WILLIAM E. COFFIN, EMMELINE A. EVERETT, 

WILLIAM POPE, SARAH E. HALL, 

HENRY G. DENNY, MARY C. BARNARD, 

MARTHA R. MAY^ ELIZA A. NAZRO, 

NANNIE B. SCUDDER. 



Teachers : 

Sarah Clark, Norfolk; 

Helen M. Ireson, Newbern; 

S. Virginia Lawton, Alexandria ; 

A. Frances Pillsbury, Hilton Head; 

Selma Wessklhoeft, „ „ 

William H. Alden, Edisto. 









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